General Music Chat

From what I've seen in American bars it's more about what scale the person dancing, (If that's what you call it?) is on your Richter scale?

Sort of like an applause-o-meter

This probably isn't going to help but...
I watch a lot of College Football. I go by the eyeball test early on in a season before i look at stats.
I kind of do the same thing when it comes to music. Until I know an artist, I simply go by my ears.
But If I'm evaluating (2nd -3rd listen) then I critique
Is it pleasing? Is it clever, do the parts (lyric, melody, subject) work together, is the message coming through, does it make me want to participate by singing along or moving me hands and feet, does it make sense?
Is there an intro, story, conclusion resolve within the music and lyric?
Music is Language from Elementary to Masters. Does the song communicate to me?
But yeah... initially my ears tell me a whole lot.

Definitely agree ...At the end of the day, How did the song resonate with the listener... So there is Song Structure, Theme, (Lyrical and musical execution to that end) and general feel of it as part of the equation

Songs like Honky tonk Women move me from the start.
I play them over and over cause I love the sound.
Other songs like Highway song catch me with the killer
solo at the end, I listen to it over and over.
I guess if I like a song I listen to it over and over.
The notes make me feel good the way there arranged.

Songs like Honky tonk Women move me from the start.
I play them over and over cause I love the sound.
Other songs like Highway song catch me with the killer
solo at the end, I listen to it over and over.
I guess if I like a song I listen to it over and over.
The notes make me feel good the way there arranged.

I hear ya... Also, a song has what I like to call a grow-on-ya factor. If I hear it 2-3 times, and it seems better each time, then that helps in my decision . Now, Honky Tonk Women never 'grew" on me...but then again, it didnt have to...Its straight forward, and its up front... It was good from the get go...

[qu\. It was good from the get go...[/quote]
thats what im talkin about

I have been involved in many, many contests as you describe. It is
most important that you decide exactly what you are judgeing. If a
mediocre singer sings a beautifully written song with a wonderful
melody. Are you judgeing vocals or song writing or performance or all
three. If you are judgeing performance then Bernie Taupin doesn't have
a chance. If it's vocals he's out still. You see?

You may have one judge who is moved by vocals and performance and
really doesn't pay attention to the actual song. Sometimes a pretty face
and voice can dumb-up a judge.

I have found that catagorizeing can be most fair.
Vocals - 1 2 3
Performance - 1 2 3
Song - 1 2 3

Points determine winner in each category.
So to just call it a song contest can be confusing to people afterward.
It is not likely that the best vocals and performance will be singing
the best written song.
Anyway, good luck, people can get bitter real quick when there's
confusion in one of these contests.

I have been involved in many, many contests as you describe. It is
most important that you decide exactly what you are judgeing. If a
mediocre singer sings a beautifully written song with a wonderful
melody. Are you judgeing vocals or song writing or performance or all
three. If you are judgeing performance then Bernie Taupin doesn't have
a chance. If it's vocals he's out still. You see?

You may have one judge who is moved by vocals and performance and
really doesn't pay attention to the actual song. Sometimes a pretty face
and voice can dumb-up a judge.

I have found that catagorizeing can be most fair.
Vocals - 1 2 3
Performance - 1 2 3
Song - 1 2 3

Points determine winner in each category.
So to just call it a song contest can be confusing to people afterward.
It is not likely that the best vocals and performance will be singing
the best written song.
Anyway, good luck, people can get bitter real quick when there's
confusion in one of these contests.

Yep, Klugmo, I think all of the three categories you mentioned should factor in...Vocal, Performance, Song ...Keeping in mind it is a Song-Writing contest, first and foremost.

We'd be looking for technical points , Things like "WHite -Boney kneed Glen" had suggested, such as pattern distribution, bridge, chorus , hook, structure, etc. Thus, the mediocre singer who delivers a beautifully written song will most assuredly win over the Beautifully talented singer who writes a mediocre song. I intend to explain this to the panel , as we hash out what to 'look' for in a qualified song. Then another factor, is the audience. Need to figure the mechanics for collecting their responses. In short, The song that resonates with an audience would have a factor.